Does Boric Acid Get Rid of a UTI?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the seventh most common reason for an emergency department visit in the US. More than 3.6 million people go to their local ER for a UTI each year. It is also one of the most common visit reasons for telehealth and urgent care.
Treating a UTI requires an antibiotic, typically, your doctor will prescribe you a round of antibiotics that should clear up the bacteria causing your infection. Make sure testing is done on your urine as this identifies the type of bacteria causing your infection and will determine the best antibiotic.
You can also supplement your treatment with probiotic supplements to help balance out the impact antibiotics can have on your gut & vaginal microbiomes. Or if you are prone to UTIs, you may want to consider taking urinary tract health supplements regularly. Here are some we recommend (link to supplements page)
You might have heard of a home remedy solution for UTIs - boric acid. So, does boric acid get rid of a UTI? First let's remember, a urinary tract infection is exactly that - an infection in the urinary tract. This is not the same as a vaginal infection like Bacterial Vaginosis.
Check out the information below to find out more about how doctors treat UTIs and if boric acid can help clear up your infection faster.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Explained
A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when the urethra (the tube through which we excrete urine) gets invaded by harmful bacteria. This bacteria often comes from its neighbor, the closely placed rectum or vagina.
Serious UTIs can lead to kidney infections, if not treated properly. It is important to confirm an infection (with testing) is the cause of your symptoms and get the right antibiotic for the culprit.
UTI Symptoms
Most UTI symptoms are easy to recognize. The most common symptoms are:
A painful or burning sensation while urinating
Feeling the frequent urge to urinate
Cramps or pressure in your lower abdominal area
Blood in the urine
Lower back pain
Chills, fever, and vomiting (if you are experiencing a fever, it’s important to seek treatment quickly as UTIs can progress to a more serious infection called Sepsis)
Causes of UTIs
UTIs happen when bacteria that do not belong there gets into your urinary tract. Women are at a higher risk for UTIs because the vagina, urethra and anus are all in very close proximity and the bacteria that naturally exists in one creates problems if it makes the short journey to the other. Additional risk factors for frequent UTIs include:
A history of UTI
Sexual activity
Menopause
Pregnancy
Age
Poor hygiene
UTI Diagnosis
If you think you have a UTI, it's important to seek care. You probably will not require emergency care unless you are dealing with severe symptoms.
To diagnose you, your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and may also request that you take a UTI test to confirm infection before prescribing antibiotics.
At MyUTI, we offer at-home UTI tests that can identify the top 12 symptom causes of UTI. We use advanced bacterial identification technology called PCR. Our PCR UTI test offers faster and more reliable diagnoses, and we can even help identify the optimal treatment for you.
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UTI Treatments
If you have a mild UTI, you will probably need to take antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe one of the following UTI antibiotics for mild to moderate symptoms:
Bactrim
Monurol
Macrodantin
Macrobid
Furadantin
Cephalexin
Ceftriaxone
Does Boric Acid Get Rid of a UTI?
Boric acid can be an effective treatment for either yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis as it works to balance the PH levels in your vagina and kill bacteria. However, it is not effective in treating a UTI since the bacterial infection is in your urinary tract, which is different from your vagina.
What Is Boric Acid?
Boric acid is a natural chemical compound often marketed as an over the counter suppository you insert in your vagina. Boric acid is a powerful antiseptic that has both antifungal and antiviral properties. Doctors will sometimes recommend this for a very stubborn yeast infection, but it should only be used under the guidance of a doctor and never while pregnant as it kills both bad, and good, bacteria in the vagina. Even the CDC only recommends Boric Acid for specific types of vaginal yeast infections, which would need to be confirmed by your doctor.
Other Home Remedies That Help Prevent UTIs
Do you get recurring UTIs? If so, you are probably looking for home remedies to help you keep from developing them in the first place.
It is recommended to always wipe from front to back, to make sure any errant bacteria doesn’t get too close to your urethra.
Also, make sure to pee after sexual activity. This can help to flush any unwanted bacteria from the vulvo-vaginal area that could end up causing a UTI.
It is important to note that you may be at a higher risk of UTI infections during menstruation and when approaching the menopause due to lower levels of the hormone estrogen (which has anti-inflammatory properties that help to prevent infection) in the body at this time.
Lastly, drink a lot of water throughout the day, especially if you have a UTI. Water will help to flush away the UTI-causing bacteria.
Order Your At-Home UTI Test from MyUTI
So, does boric acid get rid of a UTI? Unfortunately, only antibiotics can completely rid you of UTI-causing bacteria. If you have a vaginal yeast infection, it's best to seek treatment from a medical professional, as over the counter treatments like Boric Acid are not appropriate in every scenario.
Are you searching for reliable UTI tests that you can order online? MyUTI is your trusted source for highly accurate UTI testing. Browse our MyUTI tests today to find the chronic UTI solution you've been searching for!
